To help you understand who we are amongst the other churches in Southampton what following defines our history, beliefs and philosophy of ministry to our church family and community:
- Our main Sunday morning church meetings are held at Great Oaks School, Vermont Close, Southampton View Larger Map
- We believe that church is a 24/7 thing so we also meet through the week as “Life Groups” around Southampton so that we can share in each others lives. We currently have groups meeting in Chandler’s Ford, Lordshill, Bitterne and Swaythling. Please contact us if you’d like more information about these.
Visiting for the first time
- When you arrive at church you’ll be greeted by one of our welcome team and hopefully be made to feel at home.
- Once the church service has started one of our Leadership Team will tell everyone what is happening in the coming week, as well as give some events news.
- At this point children are directed to their classes. Parents need to sign children in and out afterwards. (Don’t worry about where to take them, there is always someone on hand to help!)
- There is a youth Bible Study for Secondary School aged young people.
- Then we have a Bible talk, usually given by our Pastor. We devote around 45-60 minutes to going through the bible so it’s important if you have a bible to bring it along (don’t worry if you don’t as we always have spares!).
- Some of our musicians will then lead the congregation in about 30 minutes of congregational singing and prayer. The songs have a definite “indie” feel and are a mixture of hymns and modern songs. You are free to join in singing or just observe.
- Once the singing is over we stay around to chat over a tea or coffee. Often people get together for lunch too.
- It’s a relaxed atmosphere at Calvary. Whilst some churches like to be formal, some of our congregation wear shirts and ties most wear casual clothes such as jeans and t-shirts. We’re just happy that you’re here!
What we believe
At Calvary we believe in all the fundamental doctrines of the evangelical Protestant church. For example, we believe in the inerrancy of Scripture, that the Bible, Old and New Testaments, is the inspired, infallible Word of God.
- We Believe that the worship of God should be Spiritual.
- Therefore: We remain flexible and yielded to the Holy Spirit to direct our worship.
- We Believe that the worship of God should be Inspirational.
- Therefore: We give a great place to music in our worship.
- We Believe that the worship of God should be Intelligent.
- Therefore: Our services are designed with great emphasis upon teaching of the Word of God that He might instruct us how He should be worshipped.
- We Believe that the worship of God is Fruitful.
- Therefore: We look for His Love in our lives as the supreme manifestation that we have truly been worshipping Him.
Theological Issues:
We believe that God is eternally existent in three separate persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe that God the Father is the personal, transcendent, and sovereign creator of all things.
We believe that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully human, that He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, provided for the atonement of our sins by His vicarious death on the Cross, was bodily resurrected by the power of the Holy Spirit, ascended back to the right hand of God the Father, and ever lives to make intercession for us.
After He ascended to Heaven, Jesus poured out His Holy Spirit on the believers in Jerusalem, enabling them to fulfill His command to preach the Gospel to the entire world, an obligation shared by all believers today.
We believe that all people are by nature separated from God and responsible for their own sin, but that salvation, redemption, and forgiveness of sin are freely offered to all by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. When a person repents of sin and accepts Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord, trusting Him to save, that person is immediately born again and sealed by the Holy Spirit, all his/her sins are forgiven, and that person becomes a child of God, destined to spend eternity with the Lord.
We believe in the proper Scriptural exercise of all the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the Bible, the greatest gift of all being God’s love.
We believe that Jesus is personally going to return. This motivates us to heartfelt worship, committed service, diligent study of God’s Word, regular fellowship with other Christians, and participation in both adult baptism by immersion and in partaking of the “Lord’s Supper”.